The founder of Calamus Bookstore in Boston, Mass., and long-time manager of Glad Day Bookshop in Boston died in his sleep on October 4. John Mitzel helped organize the first Gay Pride March in Boston and co-founded Fag Rag in 1971. He opened Calamus after Glad Day was forced to close in 2000 when the the store’s lease came up and the new owner of the building wanted to turn it into luxury condominiums. Mitzel wrote several books, including the short story collection Last Gleamings about friends lost to AIDS, which was just released through the store’s Calamus Publications imprint. The store also published his Boston Sex Scandal, Doubly Crost, Inferno Heights, and a collection of poetry, Some Poems. A celebration of Mitzel’s life, which will be hosted by his brother David, will be held at the bookstore on 92B South Street in Boston on Friday October 11.